Fastening device

ABSTRACT

Fastening devices of this invention comprise a screw and a spacer element. The spacer element can be cylindrical in shape and includes a central opening extending between opposite axial surfaces. One or more grooves are disposed within and extend diametrically along at least one axial spacer surface. The groove is adapted to accommodate a wire section of a wire lath. The screw includes a head at one axial end positioned adjacent the spacer groove, and a tip at an opposite axial end for penetrating and engaging a surface of an adjacent structure. The head includes an enlarged diameter section that extends radially outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to cover at least a portion of the groove when the mounting means is disposed within the central opening. The fastening device is used to attach a wire lath to another surface by placing a wire section of the wire lath within the spacer groove, and driving the mounting means into the other surface. During the driving step, the spacer element is interposed between the other surface and the mounting means enlarged diameter section, and the wire section is secured between the groove and the enlarged diameter section to permanently attach the wire lath to the other surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to fastening devices used to attach wire lath toa wall surface and maintain the wire lath a desired distance therefromand, more particularly, fastening devices designed to attach welded wireand woven wire lath to residential and commercial wall surfaces andframing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the construction of residential homes and commercial buildings, thewall surfaces are formed from suitable framing, e.g., wood or steeldepending on the particular application. A welded wire or woven wirelath or grid is placed over the framing in preparation for subsequentapplication of plaster or stucco. In order to provide a suitable surfacefor applying and retaining the plaster or stucco, it is important thatthe wire lath be maintained a desired distance away from the framingsurface. The void space formed between the wire lath and the framing isnecessary for retaining the applied plaster or stucco to the verticalwall surface. Without the use of such wire lath and void space, anyplaster or stucco applied to the otherwise bare frame surface wouldslump and/or run downwardly due to gravity.

Past methods of applying wire laths to framing have included the use ofan attachment device in the form of a nail and deformable elementdisposed around the nail. U.S. Pat. No. 1,517,035 is the subject of sucha furring nail, wherein the deformable element is a spacer in the formof a sheet of metal. The spacer is disposed concentrically around thenail and includes a deformable wing that is designed to be bent aroundan adjacent wire of the lath, after the nail has been driven into placewithin the wood under structure, to both retain the lath against thenail and maintain the lath at a spaced apart distance from theunderlying structure. The use of such furring nail, however, is bothlabor intensive and time consuming because it requires at least threeapplication steps. A first step to combine the nail with the spacerelement. A second step to attach the nail to the underlying structure.And a third step to deform the spacer element to provide attachment withthe wire lath.

Past methods of applying wire laths to framing have also included theuse of an attachment device in the form of a screw with a spacer elementdisposed therearound. U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,597 is the subject of such afastening device comprising a dowel, that can be attached to anunderlying surface by screw, having a wire lath holding device at onedowel end. More specifically, the dowel is attached to an underlyingstructure by cam action by use of a screw within the dowel. The dowelincludes a single channel at an end opposite the underlying structurepositioned perpendicular to the dowel to accommodate placement of asingle wire lath strand therein. A web extends away from the dowel endtowards the dowel end attached within the underlying structure toprovide a desired spacing between the underlying structure and theattached wire lath.

The use of such fastening device, however, requires at least fourapplication steps that are both labor intensive and time consuming. Afirst step involves drilling or boring a pilot hole into the underlyingstructure for placement of the dowel therein. A second step involvesplacing the screw within the dowel, and inserting the screw/dowelassembly into the pilot hole. A third step involves screwing the screwinto the dowel to form an attachment between the underlying structureand the dowel by cam action. And a forth step involves rotating thedowel 90 degrees so that the channel of the grid holding device engagesa wire from the lath for retaining the wire therein.

It is, therefore, desirable that a fastening device be constructed thatcan be easily used to attach a wire lath to an underlying structure in amanner that: (1) is neither labor nor time intensive to use; (2)provides complete and reliable wire entrapment; and (3) providesconsistent wire lath distance from the underlying wall structure. It isfurther desired that the fastening device be adapted for use withdifferent types of underlying surface materials without the need forspecial tools or installation procedures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Fastening devices, constructed according to principles of thisinvention, comprise a mounting means, e.g., a nail, screw, or the like,and a spacer element. The spacer element can be cylindrical in shape andincludes a central opening extending between opposite axial surfaces.One or more grooves are disposed within and extend diametrically alongat least one axial spacer surface. The groove is adapted to accommodatea wire section of a wire lath. The mounting means includes a head at oneaxial end positioned adjacent the spacer groove, and a tip at anopposite axial end for penetrating and engaging a surface of an adjacentstructure, e.g., a wall or frame structure. The head includes anenlarged diameter section that extends radially outwardly therefrom asufficient distance to cover at least a portion of the groove when themounting means is disposed within the central opening.

The fastening device is used to attach a wire lath to another surface byplacing a wire section of the wire lath within the spacer groove anddriving the mounting means into the other surface. During the drivingstep, the spacer element is interposed between the other surface and themounting means enlarged diameter section, and the wire section issecured between the groove and the enlarged diameter section to attachthe wire lath to the other surface.

Configured in this manner, the fastening device reduces the amount ofsteps required in the field to install a wire lath, thereby reducingtime and labor. Additionally, the fastening device of this inventionprovides consistent full wire embedments that are completely furred,thereby providing improved attachment reliability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome appreciated as the same becomes better understood with referenceto the specification, claims and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a fastening device constructed accordingto principals of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a spacer element used with the fasteningdevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a wire lath attached to an underlyingstructure by as number of fastening devices of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the wire lath attachment of FIG. 3comprising use of fastening elements of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fastening devices of this invention are adapted for use in attachingwelded or woven wire lath to underlying structures such as wood andsteel stud framing. Fastening devices of this invention generallycomprise a screw and a spacer that is specially designed to retain theengagement of the screw therein, to provide consistent full wireembedment between the spacer and screw during installation of the screwwithin the underlying structure, and to provide consistent stand offspace or distance between the wire lath and the underlying structuresurface.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fastening device 10 of this invention comprising ascrew 12 having a head 14 at one axial end and a tip 16 at an oppositeaxial end. The tip 16 can be threaded, for threaded engagement within athreaded opening, or can be self-tapping, for insertion within apredrilled or pilot hole. In a preferred embodiment, the screw tip 16 isself threading and self tapping to facilitate installation of the screwin a single operation within the need to providing a pilot opening. Thescrew head 14 includes a flared collar 18 that extends radiallyoutwardly therefrom a desired distance. As discussed in greater detailbelow, the diameter of the collar 18 is sufficient to cover the wiresection captured within the spacer. Although a screw is illustrated inFIG. 1, it is to be understood that fastening devices of this inventioncan use a nail instead of a screw to facilitate use of the fasteningdevice with certain underlying structure materials, e.g., wood.

A spacer 20 is disposed around a section of the screw 12 and includes acentral opening 22 that extends axially through the spacer foraccommodating placement of the screw therethrough. In a preferredembodiment, the spacer 20 has a generally cylinder shape with an outsidediameter that is slightly greater than that of the screw collar. Thespacer has an axial thickness that can be varied to provide a desiredwire lath offset or distance from the underlying wall or framestructure. The spacer can be formed from any suitable structuralmaterial that is not readily deformable both when installed with thescrew into the underlying structure, and when installed with the wirelath. In a preferred embodiment, the spacer is molded from a plasticmaterial.

The spacer 20 includes at least one groove 24 that runs diametricallyacross a spacer top surface 26. The groove 24 is positioned adjacent thecentral opening 22 so that, when the screw is inserted completely withinthe spacer, at least a portion of the groove is covered by the screwcollar 18. The groove is sized and shaped to accommodate placement of awire section of a wire lath therein. It is, therefore, understood thatthe groove can be sized and shaped to accommodate a variety of differentwire sizes and shapes. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIG.1, the spacer includes a pair of grooves 24 that run parallel with eachother, and that are positioned at opposite sides of the central opening22 diametrically, along the spacer top surface 26.

While fastening devices of this invention can function in their intendedmanner using spacer with a single groove, a spacer having two grooves isdesired because it enables a single spacer to be used at join twodifferent wire laths together, i.e., it enables the spacer to act as ajoint where each groove accepts a wire section from two overlapping wirelath sheets. It is common practice that wire lath sheet edges overlapone another by at least one inch. The dual groove spacer is configuredto accommodate this practice. Additionally, the use of two grooves,rather than one groove, makes installation simpler and less timeconsuming, e.g., the installer has two potential wire insertion pointsrather than one, thus minimizing the time spent adjusting the spacer forengagement with the wire.

FIG. 2 shows the spacer element 20 as viewed looking downwardly onto oneof its axial surfaces 26. For purposes of easing installation of thescrew and spacer element, and subsequent use of the assembled fasteningdevice in the field, the spacer element 20 is constructed having twoidentically configured axial surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, thespacer element 20 comprises a pair of grooves 24 running diametricallyacross both of its axial surfaces. Placement of the grooves on eachaxial surface expedites the time associated with assembling the spacerwith the screw, by avoiding the need insert the screw into spacer from aparticular spacer end. Alternatively, the spacer element 20 can comprisetwo pairs of grooves 24 on each axial end, each pair comprising twoparallel groves, the two pairs being arranged perpendicular to eachother.

As shown in FIG. 2, the central opening 22 is intentionally configuredto maintain engagement of the screw therein. Rather then beingcompletely round and oversized to accommodate placement of the screwtherein, the central opening 22 is designed having at least a sectionthat is configured to form an interference fit with the screw to preventthe screw from becoming detached from the spacer element before use. Ina preferred embodiment, the central opening includes a non-circularsection 28 that is in the form of a thin membrane configured to form atemporary interference fit with the screw when inserted into the opening22 to resist the screw from becoming detached by other than intentionalaction, e.g., to prevent the screw from dropping out of the spacerelement when the fastening device is oriented the screw head pointeddownwardly.

FIG. 3 shows a wire lath assembly 30, constructed according toprinciples of this invention, comprising a number of fastening devices32 used in a representative manner to attach a representative section ofwire lath 34 to an underlying surface 36. A wire section 38 of the wirelath 36 is disposed within a respective spacer element groove 40, and isinterposed between the groove and the screw collar 42 of a respectivescrew 44. It is to be understood that the assembly illustrated in FIG. 3is provided for purposes of reference and it not intended to limit thelocation or placement of the fastening devices to achieve a desiredattachment of a wire lath to an underlying structure. The placement ofthe fastening devices with the wire lath will vary depending on the sizeand structure of the wire lath, and the particular wall structure beingconstructed.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the wire lath assembly 30 of FIG. 3 showing howthe fastening devices 32 both are attached to the wire lath 36, andprovide a desired wire lath spacing 46 from an underlying supportingstructure 48. In an example embodiment, the underlying supportingstructure is in the form of a steel stud frame. Alternatively, however,fastening devices of this invention can be used with a variety ofdifferent underlying structure materials, such as wood, concrete,masonry, and the like. The fastening device of this invention can beadapted for use with such other types of underlying structure materialby changing the type of attaching member that is used with the spacerelement. Accordingly, it is understood that screws or attaching membersother than that described or illustrated are intended to be used withthe spacer element of the fastening device without departing from thisinvention.

Fastening devices of this invention are used to attach welded and wovenwire lath to an underlying support structure in the following manner. Awire lath is temporarily placed, i.e., tacked, into position against theunderlying wall structure. Fastening devices of this invention,comprising screw and spacer elements that have been assembled togethereither in the field or beforehand, are installed into position with thewire lath by placing a wire section of the lath into a respective spacergroove so that the screw head is facing outwardly from the spacer forengagement by a suitable screw driving means. After the fasteningdevices are attached to the wire lath a screw driving means is used tosimultaneously tap and drive the screw into the underlying wall surfaceand trap the respective wire lath wire section between the screw collarand respective spacer of each fastening device. In a preferredembodiment, the screw is driven into the underlying structure using ascrew driving gun that operates at high rpm, e.g., at 2,500 rpm. Thus,the step of tapping, driving and trapping each fastening device takesplace in approximately one second.

A feature of this invention is the ability to tap and drive thefastening device into the underlying structure, and attach the device tothe wire lath at the same time, i.e., during the same steps in thefield. The ability to combine the steps of tapping, driving andattaching into a single step drastically reduces the amount of labor andtime required to install wire lath in the field. The fastening device ofthis invention is intentionally designed to facilitate combining thesethree steps by both providing a spacer element and screw assembly thatis configured to entrap the wire section as the screw is lowered ontothe spacer element, and by manufacturing the spacer element from amaterial that does not become deformed or rotate during the combinedsteps. For example, a spacer element that is formed from a readilydeformable material such as paper could tear as the screw is beingrotated, causing the wire section to be removed or torn from the groove.Additionally, a spacer element that is formed without grooves willrotate when the screw is being driven into the underlying structure athigh rpm (2,500 rpm). Rotation of the spacer element is not desiredbecause it is known to tear through the underlying waterproof papercovering the underlying wall structure, thereby exposing the underlingstructure to moisture and moisture-related damage.

Additionally, fastening devices of this invention are specificallydesigned to minimize the amount of time that is spent in the fieldduring wire lath attachment by both increasing the number of ways thatthe wire section and spacer element can be combined, e.g., by using morethan one groove, and by securely retaining the screw within the spacer,thereby avoiding the need to reassemble the fastening device members inthe field.

Although limited embodiments of fastening devices have been specificallydescribed and illustrated herein; many modifications and variations willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to beunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, fasteningdevices constructed according to principles of this invention may beembodied other than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fastening device comprising: a screw meanshaving a head at one axial end and a tip and an opposite axial end, thehead having a collar that extends radially outwardly a distancetherefrom; and a spacer disposed around a portion of the screw, thespacer including: a central opening extending therethrough from oneaxial spacer surface to an opposite axial spacer surface, the screwbeing disposed within the central opening; and at least one groovedisposed within an axial spacer surface and extending diametricallythereacross, the groove being positioned adjacent the central openingthe collar radiating outwardly beyond the groove so that at least aportion of the groove is completely covered by the screw collar when thescrew is inserted into the central opening.
 2. The device as recited inclaim 1 wherein the spacer comprises a pair of parallel grooves, eachgroove on an opposite side of central opening.
 3. The device as recitedin claim 2 wherein the spacer comprises a pair of parallel grooves oneach axial spacer surface.
 4. The device as recited in claim 1 whereinthe spacer is formed from a material selected from the group consistingof plastic, wood, metal, and combinations thereof.
 5. The device asrecited in claim 1 wherein the spacer central opening includes means forproviding an interference fit with the screw to retain the screwtherein.
 6. The device as recited in claim 1 comprising a wire lathincluding number of fastening devices as recited in claim 1 attachedthereto, wherein a wire section of the wire lath is interposed betweenthe spacer groove and screw collar of each fastening device, and atleast a portion of the wire section is completely covered by the screwcollar.
 7. A fastening device for use in attaching a wire lath to anunderlying structure comprising: a spacer element having a generallycylindrical shape and a central opening extending therethrough betweenopposite axial spacer surfaces, wherein at least one axial spacersurface includes at least one groove disposed therein and extendingdiametrically thereacross, the spacer element being formed from amaterial selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, andcombinations thereof; and means for mounting the spacer to anothersurface, the means being disposed at least partially through the centralopening and having a head at one axial end and a tip at an oppositeaxial end, the head including an enlarged diameter portion that extendsradially outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to completely coverat least a portion of the spacer groove when positioned thereagainst. 8.The device as recited in claim 7 wherein the mounting means is a screw.9. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein the spacer includes a pairof grooves arranged parallel with one another on each side of thecentral opening.
 10. The device as recited in claim 9 wherein the pairof grooves are on both axial spacer surfaces.
 11. The device as recitedin claim 7 wherein the central opening includes means for retaining themounting means therein.
 12. The device as recited in claim 11 whereinthe mounting means is a screw and at least a section of the centralopening is configured to provide an interference fit with the screw toprevent unintended detachment.
 13. A wire lath and fastening deviceassembly comprising: a wire lath comprising a number of wires joinedtogether; at least one fastening device attached to a wire section ofthe wire lath, the device comprising: a spacer element having agenerally cylindrical shape and a central opening extending therethroughbetween opposite axial spacer surfaces, and wherein at least one axialspacer surface includes a groove disposed therein and extendingdiametrically thereacross, and wherein a wire section of the wire lathis disposed within the groove; and a screw disposed through the centralopening and partially into an underlying surface, the screw having ahead at an axial end adjacent the spacer groove and a tip at an oppositeaxial end, the head including an enlarged diameter portion that extendsradially outwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to completely coverat least a portion of the spacer groove and the wire section to attachthe wire section to the fastening device.
 14. The assembly as recited inclaim 13 wherein the spacer includes a pair of grooves arranged parallelwith one another on each side of the central opening.
 15. The assemblyas recited in claim 14 wherein the pair of grooves are on both axialspacer surfaces.
 16. The assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein asection of the central opening is configured to provide an interferencefit with the screw to prevent unintended detachment.
 17. The assembly asrecited in claim 13 wherein the spacer element is formed from a materialselected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, andcombinations thereof.
 18. A method for attaching a wire lath a desireddistance from an underlying surface comprising the steps of: positioninga wire lath wire section within a groove disposed along an axial surfaceof a spacer element, wherein a mounting means is disposed within acentral opening of the spacer element, and wherein the mounting meansincludes an enlarged diameter portion that covers at least a portion ofthe wire section disposed within the groove; driving the mounting meansinto the underlying surface to interpose the spacer element between theenlarged diameter section and the another surface; and securing the wiresection between the spacer groove and enlarged diameter section toprovide a defined distance between the wire lath and underlying surface.19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the steps of driving andsecuring are performed simultaneously.
 20. A method for attaching a wirelath to another surface comprising the steps of: positioning a wire lathwire section within a groove disposed along an axial surface of afastening device spacer element comprising a screw disposed through aspacer element central opening, wherein the screw includes an enlargeddiameter portion at an axial end adjacent the spacer element groove thatcovers at least a portion of the wire section disposed within thegroove; fastening the screw into another surface so that the spacerelement is interposed between the screw enlarged diameter section andthe another surface, and securing the wire lath wire section between thespacer groove and enlarged diameter section, wherein at least a portionof the fastening step occurs simultaneously with the securing step. 21.A fastening device comprising: a screw means having a head at one axialend and a tip and an opposite axial end, the head having a collar thatextends radially outwardly a distance therefrom; and a spacer disposedaround a portion of the screw, the spacer including: a central openingextending therethrough from one axial spacer surface to an oppositeaxial spacer surface, the screw being disposed within the centralopening, wherein the central opening includes means for providing aninterference fit with the screw to retain the screw therein; and atleast one groove disposed within an axial spacer surface and extendingdiametrically thereacross, the groove being positioned adjacent thecentral opening the collar radiating outwardly beyond the groove so thatat least a portion of the groove is completely covered by the screwcollar when the screw is inserted into the central opening.
 22. Thedevice as recited in claim 21 wherein the spacer comprises a pair ofparallel grooves, each groove on an opposite side of central opening.23. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein the spacer comprises apair of parallel grooves on each axial spacer surface.
 24. The device asrecited in claim 21 wherein the spacer is formed from a materialselected from the group consisting of plastic, wood, metal, andcombinations thereof.
 25. The device as recited in claim 21 comprising awire lath including number of fastening devices as recited in claim 1attached thereto, wherein a wire section of the wire lath is interposedbetween the spacer groove and screw collar of each fastening device, andat least a portion of the wire section is completely covered by thescrew collar.